Fluid flow control device



Dec. 27, 1949 R. R. FIRE ET AL 2,492,140

FLUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1944 Nimm Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED S TAT ES PATENT 0 F FICE FLUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Russell R. `Fikc, Cleveland, and Nathan WOakes,

Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignors to Thompson Products, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Application January 22, 1944, serial No. 519,270

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates vto a fluid flow i `control device fsu'ch, yfor example, as a selector 'cock o r control valve 'for manipulating the flow of fluid in a 'conduit or the like, being particu- "l'a-rly advantageously employed for controlling v'the flow of ffuel from the `several fuel tanks of ,ton Vcooperating with the chamber walls. The

-ehambermay advantageously bejof substantially hemispherical shape and have disposed therein a rotatable plug 'for "controlling an inlet and an foutlet connecting with vlsaid 'chamber embodying a substantially hemispherically shaped body part and a stem -`portion which may or ina'y' not `be formed integrally therewith.

The device of the present l'invention is vadapted to be mounted directly Y'upon van apertured support and the inletcohnections emanating radially from the casing are provided with planar surfaces into which the mounting means, such, for example, as bolts may lbe threaded to secure the `"unit in place. The cover vmer'nber for the casing serves as a locater for the unit 'with respect to the aperture inthe wall upon which it is to -be mounted. v Y Y By reason of the fact that the plug member 'of the selector cock of the present invention is provided with a body portion having shape defined by a surface Yofrevolution, it is impossible :for the plug to 'cock out of position or engager ment with 'each of the sealing rings associated 'with the several inlets and the outlets connected with the chamber in the valve casing. Thus, it

` will be readily apparent that vthe plug member 'of the valve u'nlt is always sealed oli, thereby preventing possible distortion of Vsaid plug 4member'or leakage betweeh'the 'plug member and the casing. The plug'm'embe'r of the valve unit 'of the present'invention is also provided with a passageway 'communicating 'with the outlet and vone 'of the inlets, depending 'upon its position with respect to the easing.

The easing of 'the -'selector cock `of the new 'invention is provided with a plurality of -ports disposed substantially symmetrically therearound and in closely spaced relation. All of these "ports may not, however, be used and some of them may merely be blind "ports to enable the valve to be shut 'off completely in at least kone 'for :the positons'ofthe plug' member. The lsingle I2 passageway 4in the plug member is advantageous- -l'y Aforin'edras an elbow and thereby prevents obstruction to the -free flow of fluid therethrough aiording a lesser pressure drop than `is ordinlaril'y 'experienced in the use of such units.

V-It lis, therefore, an object lof this invention to provide an improved fluid control valve.

It is another object of the. .present invention to provide a fluid Icontrol valve unit which embodies va `casing having an internal chamber the wall of which accommodates and cooperates with la plug member having a shape defined by a surface of revolution in :such manner that vthe plug may be til'ted with respect to the -chamber vwall and yet effectively seal oi the ports therein 'without affecting the operation of the valve unit.

Another object of the invention is to .provide fa valve unit in which the :plug ymember is so constructed that it will cooperate to adjust its 'position with 'respect lto the wall of the internal chamber fo'f the casing to -seatiitsel'f Aproperly and seal the ports in the chamber against leakage.

A further 'object -`of the 'present :invention is to provide la Afluid 'control valve having a vcasing with A'Irlountiiig -reans associated with the inlet connections therefor, and .la removable cover adapted to serve as 'a pilot or locating means for iguidihg the casi-ng into position on the support on which it lis mounted.

-A still further 'object :of the .present invention -isto provide a selector Vcock vor fluid control valve ha'vihg a substantially hemispherically shaped plug vvalve vwhich prevents said plug from becoming cocked "withrespe'ot to the casing.

lt lis a still further object of the present invention to provide a fluid control valve unit having a plug -inenber which `embodies a igenerally hemispherically shaped body portion 4and an l'integra-illy for-ined s'tenl portion.

Another 'and still further object of the invention tis to provide Ea 'plug member having a Apasfree'dom of @passageffor the fluid being handled yby the unit with 'a fini-nir'num pressure drop.

Another and still further v"obje'c'ztiof the present `invention is to provide a 'rotatable plug member which 4requires `a relatively low sealing torce for *sealing olf the inlet ports of :the casing vto prewill be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of preferred example, illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a selector cock which illustrates the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view with parts in elevation and broken away taken along the line II--II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the Valve structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan View of the casing of the valve structure illustrated in Figure 1 with the cover member and the plug removed to show the arrangement of the ports therein;

Figure 5 is an elevation or the plug member for the valve unit of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the plug member illustrated in Figure 5 and showing the passageway extending therethrough; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlargement illustrating the method of mounting the stem portion of the plug member Ywith respect to the cover member of the valve unit.

As shown on the drawings:

The valve structure of the present invention which will be referred to hereinafter as a selector cock and designated generally by the reference numeral I is adapted to be mounted upon a wall, floor or panel structure II in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. An aperture I2 is provided in the wall or other supporting structure and the valve unit I0 which comprises the casing I3 and the domed cover member I is secured thereto as by means of a plurality of screws I which are threaded into the casing I3 and so disposed that the cover member I4 extends through said opening I2.

The casing I3 is provided with a plurality of inlet connections I6 which are internally threaded for the reception of pipes, tubes or other like conduits for supplying fluid to the selector cock and extend radially with respect to the body of the casing I3. Each of the inlet connections I6 is provided with an upper plane surface I1 adapted to be mounted flush against one face of the wall II and into which a plurality of bolts I8 are threaded for the support of the cock I0 from the wall II after it has been located by the domed cover member I4 in the opening I2.

The casing I3 of the selector cock I0 is illustrated as being provided with a substantially hemispherically shaped chamber although the chamber may assume other suitable forms. An outlet port 2l, which, as in the case of the inlet connections I6, may be internally threaded or otherwise tted for the reception of a suitable pipe, tube, conduit or the like, is formed in the base of chamber 20. The inlet connections I6 communicate with the chamber '2B of the casing I3 by means of the ports 22. One or more of the ports 22 depending upon the number of inlet connections to be provided may be a blind port, in this case, only one of said ports is not provided With an inlet connection.

Disposed in the chamber 20 and extending through a centrally disposed opening 24 in the domed cover member I4 is a unitary plug member 25 which embodies a hemispherical body portion 2S and an integrally formed stern portion '21 which is advantageously disposed centrally of the planar surface 25 of the body portion 26. The stem portion 21 which projects through the opening 24 in the domed cover member I4 is adapted to rotate the plug valve 25 and to selectively position the same to interconnect the outlet 2l with one of the ports 22 in the chamber 20 on the casing I3 as desired.

To prevent leakage between the plug 25 and the casing I3 each of the inlet ports 22 in the chamber 25 is provided With a suitable sealing member 29. The seals 29 may be formed of any suitable material such, for example, as neoprene, or other suitable rubber or plastic material, which is capable of withstanding deterioration or attack from the uid being handled by the selector cock of the invention. Each seal 29 is advantageously of annular form and is adapted to be press nt or otherwise secured in a groove 30 so as to completely encircle each port 22.

It will be understood that the seals 28 can have a constant cross-sectional area of any shape by reason of the uniformly curved wall of the chamber 2E) and the hemispherical conguration of the plug 25. Thus, the seals 29, although preferably of annular form, may be fabricated with a triangular, square or, in fact, any polygonal peripheral conguration, and may be easily and cheaply made.

Moreover, the seals 29 are adapted to lie in a plane normal to the radius of the plug 25. As a result the grooves 30 in which said seals are seated can be cut in the wall of the casing i3 with simple hollow end mill tools. This feature eliminates the necessity of special tools or dimcult machining operations..

By virtue of the substantially equally spaced relation of the several seals 29 the plug 25 will be uniformly supported in the chamber 20 and will at all times by virtue of its hemispherical shape be in contact with said seals, thereby effectively preventing the possibility of leakage between the plug and the casing.

To provide a uniform pressure against the plug 25 so as to cause it to seat in its operation against the seals 2Q there is provided a compression spring 32 which encircles the stem portion 2l of the plug 25. The spring 32 is held in place against the planar surface 28 of the valve member 25 as by means of the washer 33 having a depending iianged portion 34 to aid in centering it with respect to the spring 32 and the stem portion 2T of the plug 25. As will be seen from Figure 7 of the drawings, a suitable anti-friction bearing 35 is disposed between the washer 33 and a second washer 35, `both of which form the ball races for the bearing 35.` The'washer 36 is urged by spring 32 against a suitable packing ring 31 disposed in an annular groove 38 in the underside of the cover member I4 and encircling the opening 2li therein through which the stem portion 21 of the plug 25 extends so as to prevent leakage of the fluid from the chamber 2B of the casing I3 about the stem portion2'l.

The plug 25, by reason of its being urged against the several seals 2S by the spring 32 causes each of said seals to'attempt to deform o1 spread out. The groove 30 in which each seal 2E is disposed serves to restrain this spreading actior thereby compressing the seal. The plug 25 thus causes the seals 2S to seal the grooves 30 in compression and the body portion 25 of the plus 25 instension. The seals 29, since they are ir tension with respect to the face of the plug 25 afford an effective Aline contact seal with. thx lowest possible spring' pressure on the plug 25 inasmuch as the spring 32`may beless stii an( A yoke'ineinberg is mounted on the end of the 'stem 'prtiii 421 'projecting through the cover member I4 and -is provi-ded with av flanged portion 4| which contacts an anti-friction bearing 42 Also Maingain fief" 'rig lure t ig'-.ns,.;if 1tshbu1d 'become sealed 'in pl'a'fce during its "lise is the 'cam surface' as at the base for thefsret In of tneyeke so.

It Will be seen that, as the Yille-(l is rotated,

25 and mounted externally of th cifei` iember I4. A pin 43 'extending throughthe stem portion 21 of the plug 25 perpendicular tothe axis thereof engages a slot 44 vinthe yoke 40 and is Y supported at the base therofby a cam surf-ace 45. A plurality 'of position 1fiiiders A"41, *one of v'fhich is located at Keach 4of the 'pbrts 22, embodying 'a' d'med 'she-1149 -ba''ked a compression 'spring-'5U dis-posed within la4 p tically extending bore4'8 and-'engaging diipls ('h''t shown) Vformed on the underside'oi the flanged portion 4| of the yoke 40 serve to indicate and retain the plug 25 -in the selected position respect to the port 22 as' desired.A

The plug 25 has formed therein a passageway 52 extending vertically from the center of the base thereof and thence laterally and interconnecting with the outside wall of the hemispherical body portion 26 so as to interconnect the outlet 2| with one of the inlet ports 22 in the casing I3 of the selector cock ID. The passageway 52 has the form of an elbow and is adapted to afford an unobstructed passage for the fluid from an inlet port 22 to the outlet 2| depending upon the position of the plug 25 with respect to the chamber 2|) in the casing I3. By virtue of the construction of the passageway 52, no baffle or other obstruction is placed in the way of the uid passing therethrough and, therefore, a minimum pressure drop is experienced as between the inlet and outlet ends thereof.

Whenever the pressure exerted by the iiuid within the passageway 52 becomes greater, a condition which normally renders it more dicult to seal off the chamber to prevent leakage therefrom about the stem 21 of the plug 25, the structure of the selector cock I0 is such that a more effective seal results. The fluid pressure against the curved wall of the passageway 52 in the body portion 26 of the plug 25 tends to raise the plug against the spring 32. As the spring 32 is compressed by the raising of the plug 25, the packing ring 31 is more tightly squeezed into the annular groove 38 in the cover I4. Since the groove 38 confines the ring 31, it will be caused to tightly engage the stem 21 at the point Where it projects through the opening 24 in the cover I4, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the packing ring 31.

The single compression spring 32 advantageously serves not only to hold the plug against the several seals 29 in the chamber 2D, but also to seat the packing ring 31 in its groove 38.

In the operation of the selector cock Il), since the plug 25 is uniformly supported by the annular seals 29 disposed in the chamber 2B of the casing I3 and is urged against said seals by the spring 32 it is held tightly in place and may as a result form a pressure lock against the several seals. The anti-friction bearings 35 and 42 in which the stem portion 21 of the plug 25 is rotatably supported serve to aid in reducing the degree of torque required to shift the plug 25 when it is desired to interconnect the outlet 2| with a different one of the inlets 22.

plug 25 and each for seaisza 'the Aenea-vise naiven-1enf; er the sieges is @my slight-being 'limited Aby the prev" "ien 'ci anfanulairim 53 f facet-i8 of the gner ly her'i'isphiical body p0r- @tion '2e ef the plug 22s which issue-etes to contact annular se entire inner. side ef the cover member i4.

y will be 'understood from the; Yforegoing dekvseripti'on 'a reference 'to the tiravvin'gs, the plug 25 'of the 'il-lustratd-v-aryefuriitmay be positi" ed 1in any 'one "of fiv diiferet locations `with peet-'tothe basing I3 i'ofthe'selector cock IIJ. it 'tvl-l l-life seen, -i'aiy i'e oitl'i Ysev'eial linlets 22 including the one blind inlet may be interconnected at any time with the outlet 2| in the base of the casing I3 by the selective operation of the plug 25. The plug 25 will be retained in Whatever position it is shifted by the registration of the position finders 41 with dimples formed in the underside of the flanged portion 4| of the yoke 40 against inadvertent or unauthorized shifting of the plug 25 from its selected position.

The selector cock I0 of the present invention is especially adapted for use in the handling of fuel from a plurality of tanks located in various parts of the fuselage, wings and other parts of an airplane to the airplane engine. The selector cock ID may be employed to control the flow of fuel from any one of said tanks to the engines by connecting the outlet 2| with the proper inlet port 22 in chamber 20 or to completely shut off the ow of fuel from any of the tanks by positioning the plug 25 so that the passageway 52 extending therethrough interconnects the outlet 2| with the blind port 22 in the chamber 20.

While the several ports 22 in the chamber 20 associated with the several bosses or connections IG of the casing I3 have been referred to as being inlets and the port 2| has been termed the outlet in the foregoing description, it will be understood that they may be readily interchangeable. Thus, instead of being employed to interconnect a plurality of supply sources with a single outlet, as in the present case, the selector cock I0 may serve equally advantageously to distribute a bulk supply from one source to a plurality of distributing points.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention. The body portion 26 of the plug member 25, While it is illustrated as being substantially hemisphercial in shape, may take the form of a spherical segment which is either smaller or larger than a hemisphere. The stem portion 21 of plug member 25 may be integral or not, as desired, and may extend in either or both directions through the axis of symmetry of the body portion 26. The passageway 52 in plug member 25 may traverse the body portion 26 angularly, as indicated, or it may extend straight through, branch or be duplicated. Itis, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

We claim as our invention: Y

In a selector cock, a casing provided with an internal chamber the wall of which denes a spherical segmental surface and having an inlet and an outlet, a rotary valve member having a substantially spherical segment body portion rotatable in said chamber and a stem portion, an annular cover member for said casing journaling said stem portion of the rotary valve member for rotative and axial movements, a sealing means disposed in said cover member and extending about the stem portion of the rotary valve member, an annular anti-friction thrust bearing surrounding said stem portion and abutting said sealing means, a spring surrounding said stem portion and operating between said body portion and said thrust bearing for positioning the rotary valve member in the casing and holding the sealing means in place against the cover member, and a passageway in the body portion of the rotary valve member to selectively interconnect the inlet and outlet in the casing, said passageway being so formed that the fluid admitted by :8 the inlet exerts pressure against vthe wall of the passageway which tends to raise the rotary valve member, thereby further compressing the spring against said thrust bearing.

' RUSSELL R. FIKE.

NATHAN W. OAKES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,150,144 Norton Aug. 17, 1915 1,608,412 Mechling Nov. 23, 1926 2,127,679 Dudley Aug. 23, 1938 2,226,169 Koehler Dec. 24, 1940 2,233,840 Koehler Mar. 4, 1941 2,312,601 Stillwagon Mar. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 665,650 Germany Sept. 30, 1938 

